“Wide Bay’s sporting champions come from all communities in the electorate, they participate in a diverse range of sports, and they distinguish themselves in state, national and international competitions.

“The cost of participating in these events can be quite high, especially where travel over great distances is required, so this funding will help to ease that pressure and assist them towards achieving their sporting goals.”

The Federal Government’s Local Sporting Champions program supports young sportsmen and women between the ages of 12 and 18, by providing grants of $500 to help meet the costs of participating in sporting events, including travel, equipment, uniforms and accommodation.

Name Competition Community

Ella Boot

UK Hungary Boxing Tour

Cooroibah

Caitlyn Taylor

Australian Karate Nationals

Tewantin

Alec Jardine

Rugby League National Championships

Gympie

Dominique Sandow

State Rugby League Carnival

Cherbourg

Kaitlyn Ryan

Westfield National Youth Soccer Championships

Maryborough

Shanelle Adams

National Hockey Championships

Veteran

Kaitlyn Walker

Georgina Hope Foundation Swimming Championships

Pomona

David Mostofizadeh

Australian Open Karate Championships

Gympie

Darcy Rankin

BMX National Championships

Yengarie

Levi McDermott

Queensland Schoolboys Soccer Championships

Cooloola Cove

Abigail Slavin

Australian Boxing Championships

Tewantin

Casey Payne

Australian Athletics Championships

Peregian Beach

Anniston Chappell

National Hockey Championships

Maryborough West

Diarmid Chappell

National Hockey Championships

Maryborough

Ben Buggy

School Boys Rugby League Championship

Gympie

Alfred Watcho

School Boys Rugby League Championship

Cherbourg

Selwyn Cobbo

School Boys Rugby League Championship

Cherbourg

Ethan Druce

Victorian Short Course Swimming Meet

Federal

Bella Smith

Australian Football Championships

Doonan

Traevonnah Fisher

State Rugby League Junior Carnival

Cherbourg

“These young sporting champions build on the Wide Bay region’s reputation of producing outstanding athletes and they all do a fine job of representing their sport and their community through their sporting endeavours. I congratulate them on their success and wish them well in their sporting pursuits,” Mr O’Brien said.

“There were many applications for the Local Sporting Champions Program and only limited grants are available, but I am really impressed by the depth of talent, the level of commitment, and the ambition and pursuit of excellence, that the applicants demonstrated.”

To be eligible to apply for a Local Sporting Champions grant, applicants: • must be aged 12 to 18 years (inclusive); • must be required to travel a distance of 250 kilometres or more, return. • be participating in an official national sporting organisation (NSO) endorsed sporting competition.

The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) is responsible for the management and coordination of the program, with grant recipients selected by a local panel.

Applications for the grants can be made at any time throughout the year, through the Australian Sports Commission’s website www.ausport.gov.au/champions. For further information contact Mr O’Brien’s office on 1300 301 968.